Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War #4 Review

It’s more than certain by now that the best comic book event of the year is being published by IDW. It’s well paced, filled with great character moments and it’s epic as all hell. Sure it’s a weird crossover nobody necessarily asked for, but it’s so damn good. Unless, of course, it fails after its very good introduction. Is it good?

Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War #4 (IDW Publishing)

Nekron is on his way to destroy the universe—the same one Star Trek is residing in—and its only saviors are a few remaining Lanterns. Along with Hal Jordan and his green ring, a few blue and purple stand in the way of yellow and red Lanterns. They of course have joined with Klingons and Romulans respectfully (the angriest aliens it appears) and want to dominate. Meanwhile Kirk and his crew, some of whom have Lantern powers for the time being, are wrapping their heads around the impending doom that is Nekron.

Ouch.

Why does this comic book matter?

Did you see the intro!? This is the best event series of the year. Period. Sure the entire DCU isn’t involved, but it’s epic in so many ways, holds a lot of interesting character moments and looks fantastic.

Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?

Writer Mike Johnson opens this book reminding us of the doom that is coming from Nekron; a good way to build up the tension, and it works well. This flows nicely into the Star Trek characters asking questions and getting a little worried about the odds. Johnson gets a couple bits of good dialogue in for the characters and I’m loving the roles he’s giving to the Star Trek cast. We’re starting to see how Scottie will play a part in the heroes triumphing for instance, and later we get to see each of the characters’ darkest fears when Sinestro lays the smackdown.

Speaking of Sinestro, he makes an awesome entrance in this issue. Let’s just say Klingon Warbirds haven’t looked this frightening. Though this issue amounts to a quick recap of Nekron and then one bigger battle, it doesn’t feel quick or vapid by any means. Johnson gives all the characters a moment to shine or reflect and that makes it all the more enjoyable.

These dudes are always so angry!

The art by Angel Hernandez continues to make me marvel at his skills. He doesn’t lack in the detail department and outer space looks lovely. The likenesses of the characters never seems to waiver either, something I’ve noticed with comics using real actors in roles, with good use of expressions to cap off their emotions.

As I noted before with the Warbirds there’ aresome epic splash pages to be had in this comic. I can’t recall there being even half as many great splash pages in Secret Wars this past summer. They are always well timed, very interesting and fist-pumpingly good.

It can’t be perfect can it?

Once again, I’m having a hard time finding any faults with this issue. Overall the plot doesn’t move forward that quickly and it does feel like we’re biding our time for Nekron to show up. That said, the character moments make you forget about anything like that. The villains are certainly villainous just because, a fault that is only noticeable because the heroes are so well rendered.

Rut row!

Is It Good?

You simply can’t find a better Star Trek or Green Lantern story on the stands today. And that’s not even factoring in the fact that they’re combined here!